Austin Police Department Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting, Seeks Community Assistance

The Austin Police Department (APD) is actively investigating an officer-involved shooting incident that transpired on Sunday, October 22, 2023, and is seeking the community’s assistance in gathering photos or videos related to the case. Those with any information about the incident or the suspect are urged to contact APD’s Special Investigations Unit at 512-974-6840. The department is committed to building trust within the community and is working diligently to establish a strong and trusting relationship with the public.

As part of their policy, APD aims to share information about critical incidents within ten business days of their occurrence. The department is collaborating with the Office of Police Oversight and the City of Austin to release relevant audio and video materials from the ongoing investigation. Preliminary details about the incident are being disclosed, but the investigation is still in its early stages.

The shooting incident involved multiple officers, and the following individuals discharged their Department-approved firearms:

1. Officer Austin Fowler, with 5 years and 8 months of service.
2. Officer Lowery Miller, with 5 years and 8 months of service.
3. Officer Bryce Conner, with 3 years and 8 months of service.
4. Officer Matthew Bishop, who deployed his Department-approved PepperBall system and has 11 months of service.
5. One DPS trooper also discharged their Department-approved firearm.

In accordance with APD protocol, all four APD officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Notably, Officer Angel Gomez is not considered a subject officer in this incident, but video and audio captured by his body-worn camera will be released to provide additional context to the events.

The APD will conduct two simultaneous investigations into the incident: a criminal investigation led by the APD Special Investigations Unit and the Texas Rangers in collaboration with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, as well as an administrative investigation conducted by the APD Internal Affairs Unit with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.

Transparency and accountability are emphasized in serving and building relationships within the Austin community. The chain of events leading up to the critical incident is as follows:

• At 7:55 p.m., a 911 call reported an intoxicated subject threatening a woman with a gun in the 9000 block of Northgate Boulevard.
• At 7:57 p.m., the first APD unit was dispatched to the scene, and additional information indicated that the subject was holding a woman hostage and brandishing a gun.
• At 8:02 p.m., the first APD officer arrived on the scene, where it was learned that the woman at risk was not the subject’s wife, and he was pointing the gun at multiple neighbors.
• At 8:19 p.m., a separate 911 call reported a welfare check for a child in the same apartment complex.
• At 8:32 p.m., officers identified themselves and attempted to make contact with the subject, Cristobal Ordonez Flores, in both English and Spanish.
• At 8:34 p.m., Mr. Ordonez Flores pointed a gun at the officers, leading to the deployment of non-lethal force by Officer Bishop and firearms discharge by Officers Fowler, Miller, and Conner.
• At 8:44 p.m., officers forcibly entered the apartment to rescue a woman and child, and Mr. Ordonez Flores fired at them.
• Officer Fowler returned fire, and after further confrontation, Mr. Ordonez Flores dropped his weapon.
• Mr. Ordonez Flores received medical aid but was pronounced deceased at the scene by Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

The incident was captured on multiple officers’ body-worn cameras, but certain portions of the video are not being released to comply with state law and protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, particularly footage taken within the private residence.

The materials include comprehensive footage of the officers’ actions and contain graphic content and language. Viewer discretion is advised.  

All of the released materials are available on the Department’s YouTube and other social media platforms. The link to the materials is below. 

Please click the link here: APD’s YouTube Channel 

Anyone with information is encouraged to call APD’s Special Investigation Unit at (512) 974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. For the Capitol Area Crime Stoppers submission, you may submit a tip online at austincrimestoppers.org. You may remain anonymous.